It Looks Like Colledge Will Remain Starter At Left Guard

Colledge will look to improve upon last year

If I were a betting man, and I am, I’d be willing to place a wager that Daryn Colledge will retain the starting spot as the Green Bay Packers left guard.

Colledge is competing for the job with rookie Bryan Bulaga, but Bulaga has been out with a hip flexor and wasn’t able to play in Thursday’s preseason game. Being unavailable certainly didn’t help Bulaga’s chances and Colledge seemingly has done nothing to hurt his chances.

Coach Mike McCarthy spoke to that after the game.

“… availability is obviously the most important aspect of your job responsibility and Daryn Colledge has done an excellent job of that throughout his career here. And I think Daryn is playing good football. I’ve liked what I’ve seen so far from Daryn in the preseason.”

Even when both players were healthy, Colledge seemed to be maintaining a slight edge, according to Dan Arkush.

We hear the feisty Colledge refuses to go down without a fight and has probably responded well enough to the challenge being provided by Bulaga to remain the starter — at least for Week One. After being temporarily anointed the starting left guard by virtue of being declared one of the team’s five best O-linemen by head coach Mike McCarthy, Bulaga has come down to earth a bit recently, with daily observers telling us he has been having a good — but not great — training camp.

The coaching staff may make an official announcement as early as today, but we expect the situation to remain fluid.

If Colledge struggles in the role, as he did much of last season, and Bulaga returns and plays well, there’s no reason Bulaga can’t take over the job once the season begins.

All I know is that with Bulaga we can run the ball to the left side. With Colledge we are one of the worst teams in the league running left. He spends more time on the ground than any of the starting linemen, and rarely gets to the second level unless he’s already missed his block.